Independence Pass marks the point at which Colorado State Highway 82 crosses the Great Divide. To the east, the road snakes down towards its terminus at Route 24, just south of the historic mining town of Leadville. To the west, it's a meandering, 20-mile descent to the world-famous ski resort of Aspen.

This road holds special significance for Mr Greg Buntain. "Aspen is always an exciting place to arrive, and a difficult place to leave," says the 30 year old, who lived there for six months in 2010, and makes regular visits to the area. "Crossing Independence Pass has always felt like a moment of transition. Depending on whether you're coming or going, it can feel like the end of a long journey, or it can feel like your journey is only just beginning."

Mr Buntain now lives in New York, where he is one half of Brooklyn-based design duo Fort Standard, but he grew up far from the urban sprawl. He learnt how to ride on old Honda quad bikes and scramblers while he was in his teens, and admits that the decision to buy his current bike ? a 1985 Honda XL600R, essentially a street-legal dirt-bike ? was made at least partly out of nostalgia.

Partly out of nostalgia, but mostly in search of adventure, Belstaff and MR PORTER took a trip to Aspen with Mr Buntain ? where he jumped on a BMW R850GS, opened up the throttle, and revisited some of his favourite stretches of road. Watch our exclusive film for more.